Watch out liberty movement. Progressivism 2.0 is here, rebranded as No Labels

No Labels has been around for a couple of years now. Like many in the liberty movement I’ve basically ignored them. Reason and others have covered them, but I never really paid attention. What did I care about a “bi-partisan” movement. I should have been paying more attention. I’m watching CSPAN as Reps from the House speak out about No Labels and how great it is. As I watch them I am getting their message loud and clear: “we are coming together in a non-partisan manner to rebuild this country in our progressive image”.

To see if this impression was correct I did some research on the No Labels website. Here is a very relevant excerpt from the “Who We Are” section:

No Labels promotes its politics of problem solving in three ways: by organizing citizens across America, providing a space for legislators who want to solve problems to convene and by pushing for common-sense reforms to make our government work.

You will notice that the author of this document emphasized three phrases within the paragraph. Let’s look at these three statements, in reverse order.

pushing for common-sense reforms

This is the main phrase to be afraid of. It is phrases like this that have driven the progressive movement for over a century. Make no mistake about this phrase: reform means social engineering. The purpose of the progressive movement has been to engineer society in their Utopian image without regard to constitutional restrictions, state rights, or individual rights. As I continue to watch Representatives on CSPAN talk about No Labels there is an obvious progressive nature present.

providing a space for legislators who want to solve problems

Hmm, providing a space for legislatures to solve problems. This sounds very familiar. Oh, I know: it’s another group like ALEC, NCSL, or CSG (I’ve previously blogged my opposition of taxpayer dollars to these groups before). No Labels is going to become another place politicians can get pre-made bills to pass in order advance the progressive No Labels movement. It is ironic. At the very same time progressives are attacking ALEC they are putting forth a new group that will do many of the same things of their most hated organization.

organizing citizens across America

This section makes sense for any political organization: they will want to educate voters about their cause. While it makes sense, I believe the liberty movement must watch out! This No Labels group calls itself “non-partisan”. Many believe non-partisan is the same as “without an agenda”. It is quite clear No Labels has an agenda. They will be “educating” voters about their agenda as if it is “the truth”. This is no different from how many political movements act. However it is being done in a dis-honest way: the No Labels movement makes itself appear to be non-political in nature. Hopefully people will see through their deceit.

As time goes on independent thinkers and liberty-minded individuals must keep an eye on this group calling themselves “No Labels”. For those of that can see the damage progressiveness has already done to constitutional, state, and individual rights this does not bode well. But I still have faith real common sense will win over the deceitful “common-sense” proposed by No Labels.